Visitors stroll through Nanluoguxiang, a popular alleyway in Beijing, after the completion of a renovation project earlier this month.[Photo/Xinhua]

Originally, tourists, particularly foreign visitors, were attracted by Nanluoguxiang's small stores offering local crafts and cuisines. However, as visitor numbers increased, more shops began to sell cheap, low-quality souvenirs, while local restaurants selling traditional delicacies were replaced by stalls selling deep-fried chicken.

"The renovation was undertaken to revive the old alleyway," Xu Yan, head of the shop owners' group that organized the renovation, told Beijing Evening News.

Xu said stores selling cheap, low-quality goods had resulted in lower consumption, warning that if the situation continued unabated, there would be severe consequences. "We had to make a change," he added.

After renovation, the total number of stores in the alley has been reduced from 235 to 154, he said.

Kenson Kuang, a graphic designer and musician from the United States who has lived in Beijing for three years, said Nanluoguxiang is often too crowded for it to be enjoyable.

"It's hard to keep track of what's good in Nanluoguxiang, because there are so many tourist-oriented shops there. It doesn't really cater to my taste," he said, adding that many of his foreign friends also believe it had become a mere tourist trap.

However, Kuang said he believes that the alleyway is likely to become a better spot to hang out after its renovation, as it will be less touristy and display more of its traditional beauty.